NAD+ is a vital molecule that plays a key role in many important processes in the body. When the levels of NAD+ are low or out of balance, these processes can be disrupted, potentially leading to various health issues. Here’s a simple breakdown of why NAD+ is so important for your body:
1. Protecting Your DNA
Every day, harmful molecules inside and outside your body can damage your DNA, which is the genetic material that controls how your cells work. If too much damage builds up, it can lead to cancer or speed up aging. NAD+ helps your body repair this damage. When NAD+ levels are low, your body can’t fix the damage as well, which can cause problems.
2. Turning Genes On and Off
Your body uses your DNA to make the proteins that determine things like your hair color, skin color, and other physical traits. NAD+ helps control how your DNA is used to produce these proteins. Without enough NAD+, this process can get disrupted, leading to improper gene function, which might cause health issues.
3. Boosting Your Immune System
During an infection, NAD+ helps your immune system fight off harmful invaders more effectively. It makes immune cells called macrophages better at attacking infections. NAD+ also helps reduce inflammation, which is your body’s natural response to fight off infections or heal injuries. With high levels of NAD+, inflammation markers like TNF-a and IL-6, which are linked to inflammatory diseases, are reduced.
4. Energy Production
NAD+ is essential for producing energy in your body. It helps convert the food you eat into the energy your cells need to function. Without enough NAD+, your body can’t efficiently produce energy, leading to fatigue or other health problems related to poor energy metabolism.
5. Regulating Your Sleep-Wake Cycle
NAD+ also plays a role in managing your internal clock, also known as your circadian rhythm. This clock helps regulate when you feel awake and when you feel sleepy. If your NAD+ levels are too low, it can disrupt your sleep patterns, leading to tiredness during the day, difficulty sleeping at night, mood swings, and hormonal imbalances.
6. Supporting Heart Health
Your heart is constantly working and uses a lot of energy, which makes it dependent on NAD+. Having normal NAD+ levels helps your heart recover from injuries like a heart attack and keeps it functioning properly. Low NAD+ levels have been linked to heart conditions such as heart enlargement and stiffening of the heart tissue.
7. Kidney Health
As we age, our kidney function tends to decline, and it’s thought that low NAD+ levels may be a contributing factor. Studies show that NAD+ supplements can protect the kidneys from injury and help them recover after damage.
8. Liver Health
NAD+ is also important for keeping your liver healthy. It helps protect the liver from diseases like fatty liver disease and liver inflammation. Research suggests that taking NAD+ supplements can help improve liver health, protect it from harmful toxins, and aid in liver recovery after damage.
9. Brain Health
NAD+ supports brain health by protecting brain cells, especially after events like a stroke. There’s also some early evidence that NAD+ supplements might help prevent or treat neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s, though more research is still needed.
In short, NAD+ is essential for protecting and maintaining many different functions in your body, from DNA repair and energy production to brain health and immunity. Keeping your NAD+ levels in check is crucial for overall well-being.